Motor-vehicle.



E. GEUENFELDT.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 2a,

to Motor-Vehicles, of which the following UNITED STATES OFFICE.

EMIL GRUENFELDT, or CLEVELAND, 011:0, ASSIGNOR 'ro THE BAKER MOTOR-VEHICLE.

COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Moron-VEHICLE.

Specification ot'Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

subject of the Emperor of Germany, residingat Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefuh Improvements in and Relating is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric motor vehicles, more particularly to-improvements in suspending or mounting an electricmotor on a comparatively short ploying a longitudinally disposedpropeller wheel base running gear or chassis, and emordrive shaft between the said motor and the drive axle of the motor vehicle.

For thep'urposes of illustration I have, in the accompanying drawings, shown and .herein described one form of motor vehicle construction embodying my invention.

Figure 1'15 a view part-1y 1!) side elevation and partlyinsection of a motor vehicle embodying my invention.- Fig. 2 is a plan' view of thG'ChfLSSIS. Fig; 3 1 S a section'on theline' 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a countershaft hanger, detached. Fig.f5 1s a perspective view of the eccentric-adjusting parts for the count'ershaft, detached-.-

In' the draw ngs, 1 indicates a frame which may be of any .Well known and suitable construction; v

2 is a front steering axle of any suitable construction and on which are mounted the front-wheels 3.

' 4 are'front springs interposed between'the steering axle 2 and theframe 1.

- 5 is .a rear drive axle-of any suitable and well knownvconstruction and. on which are mounted the rear drive wheels-1 6.

,7 are springs interposed between the rear axle and'the frame 1. I

8 isabo'dyiisuitably mounted on the chassis, and 9 -is steer.ing mechanism for the front wheels.

The'parts heretofore described may be ofany suitable and well known construction,

they in themselves constituting no part of.

-. my invention,v which,v as abdve set forth,

relates essentially to the mounting of the motor and its connections to. the rear. drive axle.

'In carrying. out my invention in the illustrated embodiment, I have provided the ing the two to ether.

11, and a longitudinally disposed bar or member 12 connected at either end to the adjacent cross member 2 or 3, respectively. 13 is an electric motor of any preferred type. The one illustrated has an outer shell or casing 13 and a seperable section 13. The part 13 of this two-part casing carries laterally extending lugs 13 and 13 13". The lug 13* is preferably detachably connected, as by means of a. bolt 13, with an inwardly 'extending lugor projection 1 on the frame. Each of the lugs 13", 13 is detachably connected as by bolts 13 to an adjacent lug or projection 12 carried by the longitudinal member 12. The lugs 1 and 13*, and 13213", and l2, 12, are so disposed relative to the frame and to the motor casing as to supportthe motor with its uppermost point substantially in the horizontal plane .of the top of the frame, that is, in such po sition that when the floor boards 8 or their equivalent arelaid down upon the top of the frame they will lie perfectly flat and in a plane horizontal surface, as shown in F ig. 1. and-there will be no projection above them necessitated for; the accommodation of the motor.

14 is the armature shaft, extending at either endbeyond the adjacent cud of the motor casing. At its rear end it may be provided with a brake pulley '15.

16 is a countcrshaft having its axis dis-- posed substantially in the central long1tu-- dinal vertical plane of the frame.

At their front ends the armature shaft gether. In the construction illustrated, the reduction gearing between the armature shaft ,and f the countershaft comprises a sprocket 17 rigidly secured to the armature shaft;-e sprocket 18 rigidly secured to the countershaft, and a silent chain 19 connect- The counters aft 16 is preferably mounted near either end in bearings 20, 20 which are themselves supported in shaft hangers 21, 21 formed integral with or secured to a support or connecting piece 22 which is in turn secured to the motor casing. as by. ,means of bolts or screws 23.

In order to provide-for adjustment of the chain 19, the-eccentric device-24 is employed.

90. I. and (x' unter'shaft are suitably geared to- This comprises a' hollow tube '24 through which; the countersbaft extendsf Near either end of the said tube is arranged an eccentric 24? which is adapted to fit into the adjacent shaft hanger 21. Within each e ccentric and concentric with the axis thereof, is arranged one of said anti-friction bearings 20 in which the countcrshaft 16 is mounted. In order to make any required chain adjustnwnts all that is necessary to loosen the nuts which clamp the sections of each shaft hanger 21 together. and then turn the tubular shaft 24' until the desired degree of tautncss is obtained in the chain, whereupon the nuts may be set up on the shaft hangers so as to cause the parts thereof to securely grip the eccentrics and prcvent them and the hollow shaft which connects them from turning.

25 is a. propeller or transmission shaft interposed between the rear end of the countershaft- 16 and the differential gearing on the rear axle. The connections between either end of this transmission shaft. the axis ofwhich is coincident with the axis of the countershaft. and the counter-shaft and differential gearing may be of any suitable and well known type. I have illustrated two universal joints 26. 26. as employed for this purpose. Each is so connected in position as to permit its relative longitudinal movement along the axis of the shaft.

27 is the case for the reduction speed reducing gearing between the motor and countershaft. It is preferably separable on a line commonto the axes of the armature shaft and countershaft. and one of its parts is secured to and supported by the motor casing.

The section 13 of the motor casing is arranged at the rear end of the motor casing and at one side thereof so as to avoid the necessity of interfering with any of the motor suspension connections and the gearing connections between. the conntershaft and motor and the connections between the countershaft hanger and motor casing. when it is desired for any reason to gain access to the interior of the motor casing. This section 13 may be hinged, as at 13. 13*. to the rear end of the motor casing. and'a latch 13 may be provided for holding the section in its closed position.

It Will he noted that the suspension'which I have provided is an extremely compact and simple one. that it. allows plenty of road clearance. and at the same time avoids the projection of the motor casing above the horizontal plane of the top ofthe frame. All parts of the suspension and motorand drlving connections are readily accessible and all working parts are inclosed in dustproof and nil-proof cases. It will be further noted that the line of driving shafting is connected at its rear end to the difi'eren tial driving gear and extends forward therefrom in a vertical plane longitudinally disposed relative to the frame and at one side of the vertical ture shaft.

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the class described, many alterations in constructions and widely diilerln'g embodiments and applications of my lnvention will suggest themselves, without dcparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

'hat Iclairn is 1. In an electric motor vehicle having a frame and a driving axle mechanism including live axle sections and a differential mechanism with a driving gear having its axis in a. vertical plane disposed longitudinally of the said frame, an electric motor suspended from said frame and having its armature shaft longitudinally disposed relative to the frame and at one side of the longitudinal plane of said axis of the differential mechanism driving gear, driving shaft ing connected at its rear end to said differential drive gear and extending forward therefrom and along one side of said electric motor, a bearing for said shafting arranged near its front end. and reduction gearing between the front end of said armature sha ftand the front end of said driving shaft-ing.

2. In an electric motor vehicle having a frame and a driving axle mechanism including live axle sections and a differential mechanism with a driving gear having its axis in a vertical plane disposed longitudinally of the same frame, an electric motor suspended from said frame and having its plane of the axis of the armaarmature shaft longitudinally disposed relative to the frame and at one side of the longitudinal plane ofsaid axis of the differential mechanism driving gear. driving shafting connected at its rear end to said differential drive gear and extending forward therefrom and along one side of said electric motor. a bearing for said shafting arranged near its front end. and chain reduction gearing between the frontend of said armature shaft and the front end of said driving shafting.

3. In lan electric motor vehicle having a frame and a driving axle mechanism includ ing live axle sections and a differential mechanism with a driving gear having its axis in a vertical plane disposed longitudinally of the said frame. an electric motor suspended from said frame and having its armature shaft longitudinally disposed rela:

tive to the frame and at one side of the longitudinal plane of said axis of the differential mechanism driving gear. driving shafting connected at its rear end to said differential drive gear and extending forward therefrom. a bearing for said shafting arranged near its front end, chain reduction gearing between the said armature shaft and the front end of said driving shafting. and means for varying the distance between the front end of said driving shafting and the axis of the armature shaft for chain adjusting purposes.

at. In an electric motor vehicle having a frame and a driving axle mechanism including live axle sections and a differential mechanism with a driving gear having its axis in a vertical plane-disposed longitudinally of the said frame, an-electricv motor suspended from said frame and having its Copies of this patent may be obtained f or armature shaft longitudinally disposed rela tive to the frame and at one side of the longitudinal plane of said axis'ofthe differential mechanism driving gear, driving-shafting connected at its rear end'to said differ ential drive 'gear and extending forward therefrom and along one side of said electric motor, a pair of bearings rotatably supporting said driving. shaftingnear its front.

end, said hearings in turn being supported by the motor casing, andreduction gearing between the front end of said armature shaft and the front end'of said driving shafting.

5. In an electric motor vehicle having a frame and a driving axlemechanism including live axle sections and a differential mechanism witha driving gear having its axis in a vertical planedisposed longitudinally of the said frame, an electric motor suspended from said frame and having its armature shaft longitudinally disposed rela-' tiveto the frame and at one side-of the 10 1- gitudinal plane of said axisof the difl'eren tial mechanism driving gear,driving shafting connected at its rear end to said diiferential drive gear and extending forward therefrom and along one side of "said electric motor, chain reduction gearing between the front end of said armature shaft/and the front end of said driving shafting, a pair of bearings rotatably supporting Sitld driving shafting near its front end, and means for simultaneously anduniformlyvarying the distance between the. axes of said bearings and the axis of the armature shaft for chain adjusting purposes.

6. Inan electric motorvehicle having a frame and a driving axle mechanism including live axle sections and a differential said electric motor, afbearing idriving shafting, then-lovable section of said mechanism witha driving gear having its axis in a vertical plane d sposed longitudinally of the said frame, an electric motor suspended from saidframe and having its armature shaft longitudinally disposed relative to the frame and at one sideof the longi: tudinal plane of said axisof the differential mechanism driving gear, a shaft arranged parallel tosaid armature shaft and supported at one side of the motor casing, chain reductive gearing between the front end of said armature shaft and the front end of vsaid counter-shaft, and. a shaft alined with" said counter shaft and connected at its front end byfa universal joint to the rear end of ,said couiiter shaft and at its rear end bya universal joint to said driving differential mechanism.

7. 'In an' electric motor vehicle having a gear of the 'framaand a driving axle mechanism including liveaxle sections and a differential mechanism with a driving gear having its axis in a vertical lanedisposed longitudinally of'the said ame', an electric motorhaving a two part casing comp'risinga main section suspended from theframe and supporting the armature shaftlongitudinally disposed relative to the frame and a section movable relative to said main section, driv in shafting connected at its rear end tosaid differential drive gear and extending forward therefrom and alon one side of for said shafting arrangedmear' its front end, and reduction gearingibetween'the front .end of said armature shaft and'the front end of said motor casing being separable at will from the main sectioii ther'eof to expose the in-- .terior of the motor without interfering with the suspension of said motor or said driving shafting. 1 y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. EMIL GRUENFELDT. Witnesses: EDWARD R. A EXANDER,

GEO. B. Prrrs,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner-of 1atents. Washington, D. G. 1 

